Cowboys sign Ross, pick up option on 3 players

The Dallas Cowboys on Friday picked up the options on wide receiver Allen Hurns, center Joe Looney and linebacker Joe Thomas, and also signed defensive tackle Daniel Ross to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. Hurns, 27, played all 16 games (seven starts) in his first season with the Cowboys, catching 20 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a gruesome leg injury in a wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks, suffering a dislocated ankle and fractured knee. He has said previously he expects to be ready in time for the start of the 2019 season.

Looney, 28, started all 16 games at center in 2018 with All-Pro Travis Frederick missing the entire season due to Guillain-Barre syndrome. Thomas, 27, appeared in 10 games in his first year with Dallas and registered 14 tackles.

Hurns is due to make $4 million in 2019, while Thomas has a base salary of $1.75 million and Looney is due $1 million. Ross, who turns 26 next week, was set to become an exclusive-rights free agent. In two seasons with the Cowboys, he has played in 16 games and tallied two sacks.

Financial terms of his deal were not immediately available. Retaining Ross became a priority with the recent suspensions of defensive linemen Randy Gregory and David Irving, with the latter having announced his apparent retirement.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)